Exploring the History of 19th-Century Ornithology and Scientific Illustration through the Works of John Gould

Cataloging and the production of finding aids for scientific illustrations and related materials from the collections of the British artist of birds, John Gould (1804-81). Approximately 6,300 of Gould's drawings, watercolors, lithographic stones, lithographic proofs, color trials, and published prints would be digitized and made accessible online.

The University of Kansas proposes to catalog two major collections central to the history of 19th century ornithology and scientific illustration, the Gould and Sauer collections. This project will also digitize and publish online about 6,300 images from the Gould collection, the largest worldwide, of manuscripts and publications by and about John Gould (1804-1881). The Gould material is complemented by the research archive of Gordon Sauer, leading Gould biographer and historian. Project outcomes will include EAD finding aids of the Gould materials and Sauer papers, and high-quality digital images of the Gould drawings, watercolors, lithographic stones and proofs, color trials and associated published prints from the bird books. All digital resources will be available through KU Libraries’ website for use by historians of science and scientific illustration and publishing, and other users, including the bird-loving public, conservation advocates, and educators and their students.

Project fields:History and Philosophy of Science, Technology, and Medicine